New school year, new memories

The new school year is here. For freshman, it marks a huge transition. Some are now living on their own downtown. They’re learning to navigate a campus with thousands of students, learning to find their rhythm, they’re to find who they are now that high school is over. For everyone who made college their choice, it’s a rite of passage. And even for alumni who have long since graduated, it’s one that they remember well. Here are some of their memories of starting classes at CSU for the first time. Share your memories below.

• Vincent Lombardo ('81) — "When I first arrived on campus, I was scared — scared to be starting law school!"
• Audrey Atzel ('20) — "I was nervous when I first started at Cleveland State University. I was an older student, having just gotten out of the military a few years prior. I was worried I would be the oldest person there, but I ended up meeting a lot of other students who were close to my age."
• Ann Marie Rayburn-Wolfe ('85) — "Growing up poor, I never thought I would have the opportunity to go to college, but I am so glad I did. I was part of the first class of the College Within a College program, which was a great experience. I made close friends and the professors were so welcoming. They invited us to their homes for dinner and we even went on field trips." 
• Robert Erickson ('10) — "I remember my first professor, a tall older man, passing out a syllabus that was an inch thick. A few students walked out, but I stayed and was inspired by the lectures... I was the first in my family to attend CSU and I was intimidated, but I was determined to make it work."
• Elizabeth Goncy ('05) — "When I first walked onto the campus as a student, it was both exciting and nerve-wracking. The campus has changed a lot since I went there in 2005 and it feels more homey now." 
• Sara Bonilla ('21) — "I remember the day I auditioned for the music program at CSU like it was yesterday. I was so nervous and doubtful that I would get in, but I played my performance and the director of the string department and orchestra said he saw potential in me and welcomed me to the music department."
• Eghosa Osayamwen ('97) — "When I first arrived on campus, I felt overwhelmed, but I made it small by making friends and getting to know my professors on a personal level."
• Gary Cowan ('87) — "I moved to Cleveland in 1984, not knowing a soul. I was so excited to meet all the people in my first-year group at Cleveland State University, and I'm still friends with many of them today."
• Thomas Krupar ('88) — "When I first arrived, I was scared and unsure if I could handle the workload, but with the help of the professors and students, I was able to become a better college student than I was in high school."
• Mrunmayee Kadam ('16) — "I was very impressed with how welcoming and accepting CSU was of international students. They had a great orientation team that explained everything about how the academic program works and how to get involved in the various communities."
• Tyler Wilson ('19) — "I lived in the dorms and shared a room with someone I didn't know, who is now my best friend."
• Donna Lipcsik ('88) — "I was intimidated when I first stepped onto the campus of CSU for my Executive MBA program. I was one of the younger members of the class..."